Ishant ruled out of first ODI against England

Published: Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 18:39 [IST]

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Mumbai, Nov 12 (UNI) Speedster Ishant Sharma was today ruled out of the first ODI against England, which is scheduled to be played on November 14 at Rajkot, due to a mild ankle injury, while the visitors will miss Ryan Sidebottom in the opening encounter.

Man-of-the-series in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ishant, who took 15 wickets in the series, has been advised rest for five days by the Indian team physio Paul Close.

''Ishant Sharma has got a mild ankle sprain and he has been advised rest for five days. He is undergoing his rehabilitation at present and is making good progress. Hence he would not be available for the first ODI against England,'' BCCI said in a statement.

However, the Board did not name any replacement for Ishant as the the team has three frontline pacers in Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel and RP Singh.

Meanwhile, England left-arm pacer Ryan Sidebottom has also been ruled out of the opening one-day international with an Achilles injury, a team spokesman today.

Sidebottom is yet to recover from the Achilles problem that has dogged him since the start of the Stanford Twenty20 competition in the Caribbean last month.

The tourists also have concerns over fast bowler Stuart Broad who missed yesterday's warm-up match with a sore knee after suffering the problem in the first warm-up amtch against Mumbai Cricket Association MCA XI in which he bowled just four overs.

England team spokesman Andrew Walpole said the swelling in Broad's knee had been injected and was being monitored closely.

''At the moment we are hopeful that he'll be fit for the first match. The plan for him is to bowl at nets tomorrow morning and see if there is any reaction to it,'' Walpole said.

India will play a seven-match ODI series against England which will be followed by two Tests.